ABEOKUTA– The provost, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta has stated that mental health is not particular to any age, and must be treated delicately.
Dr. Agboola stated this during a Press Conference held in Abeokuta Saturday to mark the year 2020 World Mental Health Day with the theme; Mental Health For All, Greater Access.
The provost who was represented by the Head of Clinical Services, Dr lucky Onofa, defines Mental health as the state of well being of an individual, adding that the commemoration of mental health is a renew focus of the neuropsychiatric hospital Aro, on mental health programmes and services.
He stated that the Neuropsychiatric Hospital has a tripartite mandate of clinical services delivery, training of various cadres of mental health professionals and research.
He added that the hospital has in line with the vision, achieved and maintained a national feat of ranking as number 1 in Nigeria by the international webmetric ranking of world hospitals in 2013 to date, which is a reflection of an institutionalized prudent management of limited resources and efficient service with professionalism
“To the several specialised mental health services delivery innovations, including services for children and adolescents people with alcohol and drug addiction problems, the elderly, mental ill offenders, specialized mental health rehabilitation programmes.
“The hospital embarked on a land mark state-wide programmes intergeral mental health care for accessible and affordable treatment of priority mental health condition at the PHC centers in 21 local government area”. He noted
Quoting the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, “World Mental Health day is an opportunity for the world to begin redressing the historic, neglect of mental health ”
He therefore called for a massive scale investment in mental health by Government, private organization and stakeholders.
“This investment should be linked to programmes to raise awareness among children, adolescents, young adults and elderly on ways to look after their mental health,to create mental health access to every one” he added
The National Secretary, Association of Psychiatric Nurses of Nigeria, Comrade Iyiola Ebenezer said, “mental health is a serious issue in the country, regarding the level of high unemployment, divorce, which contributes in mental break down, as a result could lead to a serious mental health issue”.
He therefore charged the government on the improvements of man power or workers, more access to mental health, adequate information and the implementation of mental health policies.
